Canto 4 Study Guide
The previous canto (SB.3) concludes the dialogue between Maitreya Muni and Mahātmā Vidura regarding the instructions of Sri Kapiladeva to His mother, Devahūti, on the system of Sāṅkhya philosophy.
In the final chapter of the previous canto (SB.3.33), Devahūti, adhering to the instructions received from her son, practiced bhakti-yoga in samādhi, and in due course gave up her body; “the material elements of her body have melted into water and are now a flowing river, which is the most sacred of all rivers.”1
Śrī Maitreya said [a benediction]: “The description of the dealings of Kapiladeva and His mother is very confidential, and anyone who hears or reads this narration becomes a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is carried by Garuḍa, and he thereafter enters into the abode of the Supreme Lord to engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.” [SB.3.33.37]
Canto 3 Study Guide
At the conclusion of the previous canto (SB.2.10.51), Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī replied to Śaunaka Ṛṣi’s inquiry (SB.2.10.49-50) regarding the dialogue between Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, including why Vidura gave up his family connections, as well as, what Vidura’s activities were while traveling on pilgrimage, etc.
Canto 2 Study Guide
At the end of the previous Canto, Mahārāja Parīkṣit requested Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī SB.1.19.38: “Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and also what he should not do. Please explain all this to me.”
Sūta Gosvāmī now begins to reveal to Śaunaka Ṛṣi (and the assembled sages) the dialogue that took place between Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, in reply to the above request.
Canto 1 Study Guide
Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author, first directs our attention to the ultimate goal of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Thereafter, he leads us to the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya and the dialogue that is taking place between Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī and the sages headed by the learned Śaunaka Muni.
Introduction to Study Guides
Gardeners News
- Meet every Thursday 3:30pm @ Ahimsa Goshala. Trade Faire and Farmers Market weather permitting. Cultivate harmonious and prosperous village life together.
Farm Data and Analysis
Gardener Survey meta data: We have 63 total plants that are being grown. We have 8 fruit trees varieties, 7 berries, and 12 herbs. Fifteen people participated in the survey.
The next goal is to organize the data so that we can see
1) planting dates
2) harvest dates
3) weights of harvest
4) seed bank seed
For visuals I can make scatter plots. One of the goals is to include charting software so that we can have visuals on demand. Ideas or insights that would be useful on how to use this data are appreciated.
Building Community Connections
Our current focus is food security: more greenhouses, milking cows, crops, berries, herbs, fruit & nut trees. We need more community cooperation and sharing of resources to insure our future food.
"Produce your own food, grains, not for making money but just for feeding yourself and the animals. Keep as many cows as possible, and produce, till the ground, field and make water supply arrangements. The first necessities of life are eating and shelter. Then you become peaceful, no anxiety for your maintenance and then cultivate this spiritual knowledge in the same way. Don't be dependent on anyone else, become self-independent and don't be after money. Simply produce your bare necessities of life."
“First of all cows should be protected. Cows thus protected, will in turn protect the brahmanas. Thus when protection of cows and brahmanas is achieved, then the whole world is protected.”
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Part Two
Last month’s article, “Part One: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya,” focused on the various categories of the Lord’s incarnations, descriptions of the yuga-avatāras, and the modes of worship in each yuga. It concluded with an introduction to this month’s article on the twofold purpose of the Lord’s appearance as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, the incarnation for the present age.
The desire of the Lord to appear in Kali-yuga as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya was born out of a twofold purpose: internally, to realize the highest pitch of transcendental love (mahābhāva) experienced only by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; and externally, to inaugurate the saṅkīrtana movement—the congregational chanting of the holy names—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
The Lord’s Internal Purpose
śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vā anayaivā-
svādyo yenādbhuta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥ
saukhyaṁ cāsyā mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśaṁ veti lobhāt
tad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ